Hello everyone, I'm currently involved in a project focused on designing and crafting a 'concept sneaker' for a footwear brand. Since there's no current plan to mass-produce these designs, I've encountered challenges in locating a vendor or supplier capable of producing a small batch of up to 6 pairs based on our designs. These prototypes are intended for display in select brand stores only, with the primary aim of inspiring consumers. Thus, the quality needs to be comparable to that of a final product or a pre-production sample.

Any suggestions or advice on finding a vendor equipped for this task would be greatly appreciated :)

I'm currently interviewing for an ID position at a Big 4 accounting firm on the consulting side. I've experienced working with both small design agencies as well as in house teams, but never this kind of structure where a design consulting team lives within a big corporation. If anyone has any insights as to what kind of WLB these work environments offer, salary, or interview tips, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Seems to me that there has been a misunderstanding of modern design. Everything looks the same. Many of the designs we see are simple shapes. That’s not a bad thing, however, many leave it just there and forget the visually aesthetic portion. The good designs that do incorporate this, seem few and far between.

What are the elements that a designer can use to make simple forms more engaging and visually interesting?

Example for this discussion, 3Hx5Wx8D (fibonacci sequence) plastic housing with a screen, intentionally vague to drive conversation.

My first instinct is some sort of CMF change where the function is benefited by it. My next instinct is angular change.

What are your thoughts on the question when applied to the example?

Edit:Eventually my thought is that we will balance out somewhere between 80s 90s crazy pops and the now simple design. Design trends show that this has already started happening.

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I'm in Europe and I can't seem to find the stuff called "blue foam". You know the one for modeling which you can cut, carve and sand...

Currently building a prototype of a sculptural armchair and I need to make it 1:1 and I'm kinda lost on what material to make it out of before I go into final materials (steel frame, carbon reinforcement, polyurethane and upholstery...)

I've been modeling in VR and there it looks like it's gonna work, but I can't touch it with my butt.

Thanks in advance guys!

Hi guys, I’m searching for stories video full of inspiration to support my inner manifestations about starting a successful physical product design studio. Do you have any tips for that? Books or YouTube videos. Also any tips How to start the company, Haha?

I was accepted to both programs (and RISD's MID) but am leaning more toward living in NYC than Providence. I have a BFA and Architecture minor but am not yet sure what design industry I want to pursue (maybe exhibit/stage design but also interested in sustainability/net negative design) From my observations of both schools, I think Pratt's program fits my style since there are more artistic elements to the curriculum, but Parsons is a more prestigious program more centrally located in the city.

Here are considerations I'm thinking about:

1. Amenities for students (student housing perks, free/discounted transit options, meal plans)

2. Studio culture (class size, mix of domestic and international students, atmosphere (pretentiousness?))

3. Ease of navigating career services and internal professional networking

4. Crime levels on and nearby campus, areas to avoid

5. Any other considerations I should be thinking about

Thank you in advance!

I am a 3rd year in community college. Recently got accepted into San Jose State University for Design Studies. I am planning on pursuing their BS in Industrial Design. I have little to no skills developed yet. I just started messing around with sketching and perspective. I have barely heard the term CAD used in one of my 3-D design classes. My school doesn’t offer ID courses so I am just going to be thrown into the deep end if I go to SJSU. How behind am I? What should I do to catch up?

currently a freshman in id and im having a lot of trouble being able to sketch and design with pens due to a heavy hand, anyone have recs on pens that feel and glide very pencil like? :^]

Looking through a variety of school sites I can 90% of the time only see masters projects published. Is there a copyright difference for undergrad capstone projects compared to graduate thesis projects? I’m doubtful it’s a quality thing since most capstone and thesis projects are well thought out.

Looking for organic inspiration sites that’s strictly images and showing off work. No blogs, no ads. I’m specifically looking for this Japanese site I found randomly but can’t remember the name. Any suggestions?

Why does everyone use blender to make their models instead of rhino? Especially when the are those nice looking renders. Can I not achieve the same with rhino?

Wondering what your guys’ thoughts are on this. There’s not gonna be a definitive answer, but I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

I’m thinking about purchasing an iPad for sketching to replace my tablet. Is that wise? What’s the oldest gen that I can purchase and still get good performance for Sketchbook Pro and Procreate.

I have been accepted by both and waitlisted by Parsons for Product Design. Parsons was my dream school. Not sure what to do ?

Anyone here transferred to CSULB for Industrial Design? How long did it take to hear back after portfolio review? How was the program itself?

Hi! I am a recently graduated Industrial Designer moving to Barcelona and super stoked/ anxious af over it. My family really busted their ass*s to get me on this trip so i want to make things right.

It will be a couple of months until I have my papers on check to get to work legally but I was wondering if you got some tips for finding jobs or resources there!

hi everyone, I'm looking to learn new rendering software. I currently render with rhino+v-ray. what do you recomend me?

Hey guys, I just recently got an admit at the Masters in Industrial Design at North Carolina State University. Apart from that I have also recieved admit from RIT, Thomas Jefferson and ASU. However I could barely find any opinions on the internet. Could yall please drop your reviews or experiences regarding the same?

Anyone have any hot tips on remote Industrial design Jobs? (Not UX/UI

Dear Everyone,

I would like to share the portfolio I made that just recently got me admitted at Umeå Universities Master of Advanced Product Design. I am really happy to be amongst the applicants and would like to post my portfolio here to serve maybe as a reference for fellow students (I know how hard it is to find references), but also to hear your thoughts and feedback on it.

Please keep in mind while reviewing, that this portfolio is specifically tailored to UID. There is a lot more focus on the design process and the specific values of UID‘s program, rather than it being a universal portfolio. Before making my portfolio, I did a lot of research about the program, as well as contacted alumni and professors to make sure I got the topics covered that where of importance to them. When I apply for Jobs in after my studies in three years both in the US and Europe, I will certainly tailor it to the companies I’m applying to.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QdR0CimUm9F5PRQAIJRQwlbaW8t3tUkD/view?usp=drivesdk

Looking forward to your thoughts, Best Elias

Edit: I appreciate some hard criticism :)

Current looking at a career change from senior designer/manager (7 years) at a midsize toy company into teaching. Currently wrestling with the career shift. My only concern is once I begin teaching will I still continue to grow as an industrial designer? Will I learn new things about factories and professional practices and how can I keep getting better and not have teaching be the final growing point of me as a designer?

Have other teachers also done consultancy or freelance work? Were you able to grow and learn professionally by doing that?

Hi all, Ive been accepted several industrial design programs for the fall of 2024 and the ones at the top of my list are Pratt, RIT, Virginia tech, and UC Daap. Location isnt a huge factor since these are all out of state and with scholarships all are coming out to a similar price. RIT has also offered me an accelerated program which would provide me with a masters is architecture. Any input would be appreciated greatly.

How do I explain to customers that I´m not an engineer without scaring them off or ghosting me?

Like: I don´t do engineering but I develop possible methods of working and do research on that.

I lack understanding on how to explain this properly without downgrading my work...

Silly question from someone that loves but never studied ID or even arts. Why do some artists hand sketch with blue BIC pens or blue pencils? Any advantage over black/graphite? Thank you.

I’m a student learning industrial design on my own and I’ll say it’s giving some results on project requests by startups.

I have some questions about all that concerns the before and after the design process: What is usually required from me to deliver, what should I share of my process, how deep the technical and manufacturing research has to be, if I can price my work by project (I’m more comfortable with it), what questions should I ask in the first call…

Is there any online resource to answer those types of questions? Or is it something that comes only from experience?

Hi for school i have to make a composite product, made through resin vacuum infusion, the components are made so the product would be biodegradable. Does someone have any ideas of what would be a useful use case of this type of production/ material. An idea i already have are: outside furniture.

Hello everyone,

I'm a recent graduate from London interested in structural packaging.

Wanted to ask how to get into this style of work, personal projects, connections, awards, etc. Can do traditional industrial design too but I am currently drawn towards this work. Am willing to move/ relocate if that would impact suggestions or advice.